The universe is the backdrop for Jewel Theater Company’s staging of “Silent Sky” at the Colligan Theater in Santa Cruz. Michelle Drexler, right, portrays Henrietta Leavitt, the real 20th century Harvard College University astronomer who discovered the way to measure astronomical distances, opposite Aaron Wilton, who plays Peter Shaw. Jewel Theatre Company, the only year-round professional theatre company in the Santa Cruz area, was founded in 2005 and presents five fully staged productions — plus periodic bonus productions — each year. Performing for many years at Center Stage in downtown Santa Cruz, Jewel Theater Company was a natural fit to become the resident company at the Colligan Theater, when the 182-seat venue at the Tannery Arts Center opened in November 2015. “Silent Sky” opens Friday and runs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 18. The company will follow the current production with a staging of the world premier of Kate Hawley’s “Coming of Age” directed by Paul Whitworth, and finish the season with “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon. For more information, visit www.jeweltheatre.net.